Diffracting screen



C. P. MARSHALL AND J. W. BRAGGER.

DIFFRACTING SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. 1920.

1,433,637. Patented 001:. 31, 1922.

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CHARLES P. I'ZARSHALL AND JOHN w n w 'iVhBEAGG-EE, OF 3 ATERTO'W N, NEW] YQEK.

DIFIEPLACTING SCREEN.

Application filed March -15, 1920. Serial No. 366,890.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES P. MAR- si-mnr, and Join: Enaccnn, citizens of the United titatrsgresidmg at \Vatenowm in the county of Jefferson and titate of ia ew York, have invented certain new and useful .lmproyements in ffractino' r' crecn'i or which the following); is specincation.

This invention rela to diffracting; screens designed to be worn by the user. for eliminating the ,{glare of bright lights.

The object of the invention is to provide novel simple and effective means for removing or dimming; the of electric and other bright lights such as the headlights of automobiles, ai:'c.liglits, and the like, and consists of a screen, which is preferably made out of a suitable thirn light and opaque substance in one part. object is to provide a diffracting screen which may be supported by any suitable means as by the frames of spectacles,

goggles, or similar devices, r "the screens may be an integral part the frames. W hen supported by spectacle frames, the screen is preferably disposed between. the eyes and the frame and the diffractino; edges of the screen are preferably disposed slightly above and alsd at a slight angle to the horizontal axis of theeyes. And a particular object is to provide a screen of the class, which effectually obscures those direct rays of light, which without the screen, in-

variably penetrate the upper half of the.

eyes and effect the annoying dazzle and glare. The lower edges of the screen diffracts the light by producing a fringe of pleasantly affected by its dazzle, and he may therefore effect a safe passing of the other vehicle.

We attain these objects by the means set forth in the detailed description which folin further lows, and illustrated by the accompany drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front si e view of a pair of spectacles, to which our improvement is ap plied; Fig. 2 is a rear side view of the same, 3 is a bottom edge view of the screenand its support, Fe. 4 is a front side view of the screen. And Fig. 5 isan end elevation of the device and its support.

In the drawinjqz our diifracting screen is shown dctachably mounted upon the frame 2. of a pair of goggles or spectacles, such as is commonly worn by drivers and passengers of automobiles.

The frame 2 consists of the usual nose-piece or bridge 3, to the opposite ends of which are integrally joined the circular rims which sup ortthe usual lenses The'rims 4 are eachprovided with lateral forlred projections 4;, to which bows 6 are pivoted.

' 7 designates generally our diffracting screen, which consists of a single piece or body ofan opaque material, which may be formed-up by the use of suitable dies, or the said body may be molded or pressed into the desired shape and contour. 7' is the nos-.

piece which corresponds to the bridge lot the frame the said part being provided at its loweredge with a depending; clip or tongue 7 which engages one face of the bridge 3 for holding the medial portion of the screen in place. '7 designates similar plane portions. which are substantially semi-circular, and extend in opposite directions laterally from the bridge 7. and preferably over-lap and closely contact the inner sides of the rims L. The lower margins 7 are preferably straight and sharp. and these are also preferably arranged at a slight angle to the horizontal axis of the lenses 5, and the eyes indicated bv the dotted circles 8i. of the wearer. The edges 7 are preferably disposed slightly above the said hori zontal aXiS,HS shownin Figs. 1 and 2. This disposition and arrangement being found by practical experience to produce the most satisfactory results. of the planes 7 are provided similar clips 7, which hook over the corresponding edges of the rims 4t, and ccact with the clip 7 for firmly holding the screen in place. 9 designates similar integral wing or ear like portions which extend upwardly and outwardly from the top margins of the plane portions 7", for preventing extraneous light At the top margins fere withthe diffracting of the raysof light Which'emanate from a headlight. or other source.

Qur diifracting screen, as shown and described is intended to be worn, thev same as spectacles, and preferably is dctachably applied to the latter, which obviates the.

necessity of providing a separate support. a B dis os1n the 03a ue screen between the eyes and the trame ofthe spectacles, the diffracting edges 7 are positioned within the plane of the shortest focal distance or 7 range, and modify the light which passes the said edges, by apparently bending the luminous rays and causing them to penetrate into the shadow. This produces a series of alternate dark and light bands or fringes which blend or fade off into each other, and efiects a pronounced dimming of the excessive dazzle which brightlightsordinarily produce with the result that the wearer may look directly at anapproac'hing head light,

or arc-light, and even plainly trace the outlines of the bulb and filament or the electrodes of the arc, Without being unpleasantly or injuriously affected thereby. 'Thus the driver of an automobile may plainly observe the outline and accurately judge the position of an approaching car, whose headlights project a bright and dazzling light, and effeet a safe passing of the other vehicle. The

screen may be instantly and readily trained upon an approaching light, by simply tipping the headslightly upwardly or downwardly, thus leaving'the wearers hands free to steer or otherwise control and operate the car. The screen 7 may be worn inday-time without inconvenience or annoyance and is useful for shading the eyes from the dazzle and glare of the sunlight.

Having thus described our invention what we claim, is i 1 A difiracting screen adapted to be supported by a pair of spectacles, comprising two similar semicircular plane portions connected and spaced by an integral curved nose-piece the said nose-piece extending upnniciently to prevent light from entering between the ends of the plane portions, each plane portion having a clip for gripping the corresponding rim of the spectacle/frame and adifiiracting niarginwvhich inclines slightly relatively to the horizontal axis of the eyes of the wcarer and said nosepiece having a similar clip for gripping the nose-piece ot' the spectacle frame for holding the semi-circular screens in a common plane.

2. A ditlracting screen. for attachmentto the frame of spectacles, comprising similar opaque semi-circular plane portions adapted to overlay the top portions of the spectacle lenses and having integral clips for gripping the spectacle rims, said plane portions connected and spaced by an integral curved nose-piece, the top margin of said nose-piece CHARLES P. MARSHALL. JOHN W. BRAGGER. 

